Teen sentenced for killing rider at car meet

A speeding teenage driver who killed an oncoming motorbike rider at an unofficial car meet has been given a suspended sentence.

Jack Appleton was 17 when he struck 29-year-old Andrew Robson on Spring Road in Murton, County Durham, at an estimated 70mph in September 2024, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The victim's partner, with whom he had a young daughter, said their life plans had been destroyed, while his mother said she had been "tortured every single day" by his death.

Appleton, now aged 19 and of Coach Lane in Hazlerigg, Newcastle, admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was jailed for three years, which was suspended for three years due to his age and medical diagnoses.

A number of people including Appleton and Robson went to the mile-long road, which is long, flat and straight and leads to a small industrial estate near Dalton Park, for a "car meet" on 22 September 2024, prosecutor David Povall said.

At 19:35 BST, about half an hour after the sun had set, Appleton was arriving at the site and went to overtake a Vauxhall Corsa in his Ford Fiesta at about 70mph on the 50mph road, the court heard.

He struck Robson head-on before skidding into several parked cars and causing spectators to scramble for safety, narrowly missing two of them, the court heard.

The motorbike rider suffered instant "catastrophic" injuries and was declared dead at the scene, Povall said.

Robson's mother told the court her son was the "most caring" and "kind person", a "handsome young man" gifted with an infectious laugh and who loved nothing more than having his family and friends all together.

She said she was "tortured every single day" by the loss of her son and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which contributed to a mental breakdown.

Her "gorgeous granddaughter", with whom Robson was "smitten", had cried for two years for her father and had been "robbed of memories with her daddy", she said.

"Before this I felt like the wealthiest woman on earth," Robson's mother said, adding: "The pain of losing a child is something no-one would want to experience.

"I feel I have lost everything."

She said Appleton had "destroyed" the lives of all her son's family and friends, including his four siblings.

Robson's partner said they had "so many plans for the future", adding she was "grieving not only for him" but also for the "life we planned and all the dreams we will never be able to fulfil".

She told Appleton he had "devastated so many lives" with his "reckless actions", causing "unimaginable pain and suffering".

"We will have to live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of our lives," she said.

In mitigation, Christopher Morrison said Appleton was deeply sorry for his actions, with the court hearing he had autism, learning difficulties and had also been diagnosed with PTSD.

Judge Amanda Rippon said Robson's family had her "deepest condolences" and there was nothing she could do to "compensate" them for their loss or put his death right.

"I can't fix it", the judge said, and neither could Appleton, though she knew he would "want to".

The judge, who delayed sentencing from Monday to get more information about Appleton, said: "I frankly have done little but think about this case for the last three days."

She said Appleton "made a very serious mistake" causing a man to die and a family to suffer a "terrible" loss.

But because of his age, lack of previous convictions and various diagnoses, it would be appropriate to suspend his sentence and have him work the with probation service, the court heard.

Appleton must complete 280 hours unpaid work and was banned from driving for six years.

He will have to pass an extended test before being allowed to drive again, the judge said.

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